Tag: immune system

Sunshine, exercise and a nutrient-rich diet are essential to our overall health. By coordinating diet along with exercise and proper sun exposure we can achieve the best recipe for the healthiest levels of vitamin D, and other essential nutrients needed for our overall health. God has created our body in an amazing way to produce this wonderfully protective nutrient.

Recently, in the ongoing quest to figure out why some people are more susceptible to dying from the novel coronavirus, this article was published by Northwestern University. This compilation of data seems to reinforce what many other studies have shown about Vitamin D levels and our immune systems.

Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin, but a “prehormone” produced in our body from a conversion that occurs when our skin is exposed to sunlight. The National Institutes of Health has a fact sheet on Vitamin D. Without adequate vitamin D circulating in our blood, our immune system is not operating as efficiently as it should. Low levels can affect our digestion, our cardiovascular system, our bones and increase our risk for illness and many cancers. We must have adequate vitamin D to absorb calcium, and it has also been shown to be a key factor in prevention of many different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Vit D deficiency has been linked to the onset of diabetes and supplementation with Vitamin D showed an improvement in glycemic control (Hgb A1C) as well as lipid profiles.

Limited sun exposure without sunscreen is essential for our body to synthesize vitamin D correctly. This means that we should shoot for at least 15-30 minutes of exposure daily with as much skin uncovered as possible. This level of exposure has been shown to potentially produce 10,000 – 20,000 IU of Vitamin D. Sunscreen will block the sun’s rays necessary to synthesize the Vitamin D3 in our body, as does glass in a window. UVB rays have the protective effects of producing the synthesis of Vitamin D3 in our blood and counteracting the harmful UVA rays. Recent studies have shown that the best time to get the beneficial UVB rays is between 10am and 3 pm. This can mean a walk around the neighborhood, golf on the golf course, tennis, or enjoying the pool. The key is to not use sunscreen during that limited exposure while we are trying to get that Vitamin D synthesis, but also NOT to allow our skin to burn. To get the necessary synthesis, expose as much skin as possible until it begins to take on a slight pink “warmed” color, but then STOP the exposure by moving to the shade, covering up or using a natural mineral sunscreen to prevent burning. We can increase our exposure time gradually (always preventing burning) and gradually increase our Vitamin D synthesis.

There are many foods that provide naturally occurring compounds, which provide great protection for our skin, as well as many other health benefits. Astaxanthin is the powerful antioxidant that gives wild salmon, lobster and shrimp their red/pink color. It is excellent for skin protection, and the wild salmon is not only a dietary source of Vitamin D, but also provides omega 3 fatty acids, which is also very beneficial for skin protection. Both of these nutrients are also excellent for brain health. Eating 2-3 servings of the wild varieties each week will help us get those nutrients.

Colorful fruits and veggies, especially the red and orange flesh, provide beta carotene (carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, apricots and mangoes) and lycopene (tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, pink grapefruit, blood orange) which are both powerful antioxidants being shown to have protection for our skin. We should try to eat some of these daily.

Polyphenols in tea have been shown in studies to help prevent skin cancer, with the evidence for green tea being stronger. Daily consumption is highly beneficial.

Studies have shown that people with a higher intake of foods containing selenium (Brazil nuts, grass-fed beef) and zinc (grass-fed beef and lamb, shellfish, legumes) have a lower risk of cancer and better functioning immune systems.

Vitamin K (leafy greens) is being shown in studies to help manage some cancers and it is also essential for the synergy of absorbing Vitamin D and calcium for our bone health. Recent research suggests that without adequate vitamin K in our diets, it is much harder for our body to absorb vitamin D and calcium. We should be eating leafy greens at least once a day.

There are not many foods that provide Vitamin D. Wild caught salmon is an excellent source providing about 500 IU in a 4 oz. serving, sardines are a very good source providing about 175 IU in a 3 oz. serving, mushrooms exposed to UV light provide about 350 IU per 1/2 cup, and cows milk is fortified with Vitamin D, providing 50 IU per 4 oz. Many of us may need to supplement with Vitamin D if we are not getting enough and our blood levels are low. To test for our blood level, we want to ask for 25-hydroxy vitamin D to be tested. This is the circulating, converted form of Vitamin D that our body utilizes. Optimal levels are 50-100 ng/ml. Try to increase sun exposure safely, but supplement if necessary, 1,000 – 4,000 per day. It is best to use a supplement that also has K2 for best absorption.

The most important thing to remember for our health is that just like our body is made of many parts, our health is dependent on many things working together and being nourished properly with a large variety of foods. Enjoy a colorful menu each day and enjoy some sunshine!

We have just participated in a “Stay-At-Home” order for our health, something we have never experienced as a whole community. Hopefully, when we have been sick in the past, we have practiced our own version of staying at home and staying away from others. Because we encounter many germs each day, the biggest factor is not really trying to “stay away” from all germs as an effective means of staying healthy. The best way is to have a body equipped to “fight” and protect us. Our bodies were created with an immune system, and unless we have an immune-compromising condition, our immune system, when healthy and fueled with the proper nutrients, works to fight off any invaders that we encounter. We MUST keep our immune system working at its best and support it even further during a “fight” to help our immune system do exactly what it was designed to do.

The way we do this is two-fold:

First, keep our immune system healthy every day by following several basic principles:

Eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, organic whenever possible, to help us to get the thousands of micro-nutrients that our bodies need to stay healthy

Keep our digestive system healthy with pre- and probiotic foods such as yogurt, onions, garlic, cabbage/sauerkraut (see my previous article on this topic)

Sleep at least 7 hours a night, preferably in a very dark, cool room

Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes

Reduce stress by prayer, meditation, delegating and letting go of some things

Laugh and sing and enjoy life with a positive outlook.

Second, there are times when we may need to take supplements to get additional nutrients. As a huge proponent of getting our nutrients from whole food, I am also realistic that there are times and factors that influence our need to add additional sources of certain nutrients to our routine to keep us healthy. Cold and flu season is probably one of those times. We cannot always get enough of certain nutrients from food while we are in the “fight” and it is widely known in the medical field that certain nutrients support our immune system during those times.

Vitamin C has long been known to help support our immune system while we are fighting off an infection, particularly viral. It has been shown to be helpful against many viruses, including COVID-19. At the first sign of a cold or flu, many health professionals recommend taking additional Vitamin C in addition to eating foods high in vitamin C. Liposomal Vit C is absorbed at a much better rate without digestive upset at higher doses. We can safely take 1000-4000 mg per day during times of “fight”, spread this out during the day and take with food. For daily maintenance, I recommend Juice Plus+ as it provides all the thousands of phytonutrients along with vitamin C, but because it is whole food form, it is very bio-available and doesn’t need high dosing

Vitamin D is very well documented to modulate the innate and adaptive immune responses in our body. Deficiency in vitamin D is associated with increased autoimmunity as well as an increased susceptibility to infection. In northern climates, it is difficult to get enough sun exposure to synthesize vitamin D in adequate amounts to support our immune system, and there are few foods that offer enough vitamin D to keep our blood levels high during the winter. Supplementing with liquid Vitamin D and K2 combined maximizes absorption, as well as taking with food.

Zinc has been in the news lately as one of the treatment modalities some doctors are using, but it has long been recognized as important for helping us during the seasonal “fight”. There are many forms of zinc as a supplement, sulfate and picolinate are the most common. Zinc picolinate seems to be the best absorbed when taken orally. Taking 50-100 mg per day is widely recommended during the “fight” and seems to be very effective in breaking down viruses. It is helpful to take zinc on a daily basis, 30 mg per day, for maintenance since we don’t store zinc in the body. Quercetin and green tea are shown to help with absorption, and cellular uptake of zinc, so take your zinc with green tea or an apple, which is high in quercetin.

I have used and recommended a product called Juice Plus+ for many years. It is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, juiced, dried and put into capsule form. It is supported by vast amounts of published research and shown to be bioavailable, to support our immune function and help to keep us healthy overall. Visit my Juice Plus+ website to read the research and find out more about using this product to fill in the nutrient gaps we all experience every day.

Stay healthy by taking charge of your own immune system and supporting its ability to “fight” when it needs to. Blessings of great health to you!

If you think you have any symptoms of COVID-19, or are feeling ill in any way, contact your health professional.

The New Year is always a time when we evaluate, assess and determine if there are any changes we should make. We often vow to be healthier, but we may be overlooking the biggest factor in our immune system, our gut. Over 70% of our immune system originates in our gut and therefore, if our gut is not healthy, we won’t be healthy. We often overlook digestive issues year after year because we think there is no easy fix. Do we consider heart burn, reflux, or intestinal distress problems as just a part of life? That is only true when it is occasional. When these issues recur over and over, or are even part of our daily life, this is not normal. There are medications we can take, both over the counter and prescription, but these usually just treat symptoms, and often don’t address the underlying cause of the issue.

Food intolerances are the biggest cause of intestinal distress and we may not even realize it. Gluten and dairy are the most common offenders, but each of us is different and things such as sugar, other grains and soy can trigger discomfort or worse. When we eat foods that we don’t tolerate, it causes inflammation in the lining of the gut. This makes our immune system compromised and causes both our intestines and our body to react. The inflammation can then be carried over into other areas including illness, eczema and arthritis.

Perhaps the best way to begin to address this issue is by keeping a food log so that when we experience an issue we can determine if there is a pattern of offenders. Simply write down everything eaten at each meal for a week or two, also making note of any incidents of indigestion, heartburn, reflux, or intestinal distress. See if there is a pattern of foods or situations that seem to result in an issue. If we already know certain food offenders, make this the year to make a change and repair the damage in our intestines and immune system.

Try eliminating foods that may have shown up in a pattern in our log, or remove the most common offenders for 2 weeks and then try adding back only one at a time to test a food, eat a very small portion such as a couple bites 2-3 times during that day and allow 24-48 hours to see if there is any reaction. The symptoms can be bloating, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, headache, rash, or even other things. Write down any reaction. Eliminate the food again for 3-5 days and then test it one more time. If a reaction occurs again, it is most likely that you are intolerant to that food. This doesn’t always mean that we can never eat that food again. After eliminating it for a longer period of time, and working to heal our gut, an occasional meal including the food(s) may be fine.

While food intolerances may not be causing digestive problems for some of us, there are other key elements that all of us can follow to keep our gut healthy. These are explored further in other posts

Drink plenty of water.

Eat plenty of fruits and veggies.

Avoid excessive alcohol or caffeine.

Eat probiotics.

Eat prebiotics.

Exercise regularly.

Eat the right types and amount of protein.

Be creative and adventurous with meals and meal planning.

So go with your gut, listen to what it is telling you, and you will be healthier going forward. Happy New Year!